More Time for Tax-Credit Deals?

Slow-moving short sales have made it impossible for many buyers to meet the June 30 closing deadline to qualify for the government tax credit.

So it was a relief when a bill was introduced in the Senate in June to extend the closing deadline to Sept. 30 for contracts that were already in place.

As many as 180,000 households could benefit if the bill passes, NAR estimates.

Meanwhile, members of the military, intelligence agencies, and the Foreign Service who spent at least 90 days overseas last year have until the end of April 2011 to get a contract in writing in order to qualify for the tax credit.

Source: www.REALTOR.org/realtormag

Tax Credit Extended for Certain Individuals

This is good info to know for military families and certain government employees should their service take them outside the US for at least 90 days during a defined period of time:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215594,00.html

50 days and Counting...

The countdown is on! The clock continues to wind down the final days of the tax credits. 50 days is how long a buyer needs to be under contract by. Can you believe that April 30 is only 50 days away?

New inventory is coming on the market daily and the activity is plentiful! Interest rates are still low. Sellers want to sell and buyers want to buy - what a win-win!

Next week is Liberty school district's Spring Break. We anticipate a lot of activity! Get your runnin' shoes on!

87 DAYS ONLY AND COUNTING!

There is only 87 more days from today to go under contract and still be able to receive the tax credits!

$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

•The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
•The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
•The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
•The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
•The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.
•For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
•For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

•To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.
•The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
•The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500.
•The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
•The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010.
•Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.